Twenty-year-old Abdullah Qaiser had his nose broken on Saturday night by a man wearing a knuckle duster after his car was stopped at the University of Newcastle’s Callaghan campus.

Qaiser was driving to a university library just after 8:30pm when he saw six or seven people standing on the road blocking his path near the medical science building on campus, said the publication.

A woman reached through the passenger door and tried to grab his mobile phone, while a man pulled open the driver’s side door and yelled: “Go back to your f***ing country, you don’t belong here."

The man then punched Qaiser with a knuckle duster, breaking his nose. The group then fled the scene after the punch, taking the mobile phone, reported Newcastle Herald.

Qaiser said he blacked out briefly but then drove to the university gym where staff administered first aid and called police, campus security and an ambulance.

Qaiser arrived in Newcastle in February last year to study engineering. “I’m from Pakistan — you know what’s happening in Pakistan — people come here to get a better education, to be a bit secure. So when this kind of thing happens, it’s pretty sad,” he was quoted as saying.

Despite the racial abuse, police said they did not believe the attack was racially motivated. Qaiser agreed and said the incident turned racial only when his attacker saw him up close.

Police have said investigators were reviewing CCTV footage from the campus grounds. Police also want to speak with a man and woman in relation to the attack; both are described as being of "Caucasian appearance, aged between 20 and 25".

A University of Newcastle spokesperson said the institution was helping with police inquiries into the attack.

Comments (37) Closed

If they say you don't belong to here, better to leave them and come home country.

Recommend0

Shahdab

Aug 08, 2018 12:44pm

"You know what's happening in Pakistan" He made it sound like something terrible happning here. Pakistan is as normal as most other countries in the world today.

Recommend0

Babu

Aug 08, 2018 12:46pm

Pakistan should stop sending students to such countries which are full of hatred

Recommend0

Dr.M.S.Awan

Aug 08, 2018 01:13pm

Australia is known as lucky country for its wide spaces, laid back attitude and fair treatment for every one.I studied in University of Adelaide,South-Australia from 1976-1981.
Australians were very friendly and academic environment was very good.Incidents like this can spoil Australias image in the world.

Recommend0

SyedChaudhryGangaDinKhan

Aug 08, 2018 01:14pm

@Hameed Gul : What racism? Let's wait for the details. Telling some one go ''back to your country is racism?

Recommend0

Crude

Aug 08, 2018 01:16pm

‘You know what’s going on in Pakistan? Now, you should know what going on in Australia? I’m particularly interested to know which political family does Mr. Qaisar belong to since he can afford a car despite 21 studying in one of the most expensive university.

Recommend0

Ahmed bin Babar

Aug 08, 2018 01:37pm

Aussies by themselves are land grabbing foreigners while aborigines are the natives by all standards...

Recommend0

Azi

Aug 08, 2018 01:38pm

Shame , Shame Australians are ancesstors of criminals brought in from Europe.

Recommend0

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Aug 08, 2018 01:40pm

Racism and bigotry at it's highest point

Recommend0

SDA

Aug 08, 2018 01:48pm

Same kind of incident happened to an Indian also sometimes back who was also asked to go back to India.

Recommend0

Changez Khan

Aug 08, 2018 02:15pm

Australia is a nation full with racists.

Recommend0

King

Aug 08, 2018 02:27pm

Very sad & shocking incident

Recommend0

Suraj71

Aug 08, 2018 03:02pm

People in India and Pak feel proud by going to Aus EU and US. Why don't our people make good colleges here in our own country because we care more about bashing each other than other infrastructural works need to be done.

Recommend0

Basharat ullah

Aug 08, 2018 03:20pm

The only way you can deal with this type of extremes racist people is to fight back

Recommend0

nazia

Aug 08, 2018 03:50pm

Sick minded people are not just confined to Australia they are every where. Pakistan has no shortage of them. Unfortunate for brother Qaiser to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Get well soon.

Recommend0

Ankit

Aug 08, 2018 04:13pm

@Hameed Gul why go there then

Recommend0

TomTom

Aug 08, 2018 04:23pm

Whatever made Pakistanis believe Australians are their friends. They are not. - - - Despite the racial abuse, police said they did not believe the attack was racially motivated. - - - They meant it was not a question of skin color.

Recommend0

Asif A. Shah

Aug 08, 2018 04:35pm

It was a hate crime and should be treated as such by Newcastle Police, Australia. In the United States, there are enhanced penalties for the hate crimes. Newcastle Police's assertion that it was not racially motivated is absurd. The Pakistani people living in Australia and the the Foreign Office in Pakistan should complain to the Chief of Newcastle Police about the attitude of the investigating officers.

Recommend0

Harris

Aug 08, 2018 04:39pm

“I’m from Pakistan — you know what’s happening in Pakistan — people come here to get a better education, to be a bit secure.

Pakistan is very much normal and highly normal to study engineering here. Those students who fail to get admission in Pakistan, resort to Australia in the name of engineering to do part time job in Australia and then to permanently settle there.

Recommend0

Saad Ahmad Zia

Aug 08, 2018 04:43pm

" You know what is happening Pakistan " , this guy should know by now what has happened to him in Australia . He is 21 year old and no one broke his nose in these 21 years in Pakistan and in just ONE year in Aus he got beaten , broke his nose and still say " What is happening in Pakistan " .

Recommend0

M. Saeed

Aug 08, 2018 04:50pm

What if aborigines start telling the migrant Austrian white people that, they did not belong to that country?

Recommend0

Ashok

Aug 08, 2018 05:02pm

@Changez Khan - "Australia is a nation full with racists."

Why not stay in Tolerant, open societies of Pakistan and Middle east then?

Recommend0

NAGARAJA B N

Aug 08, 2018 05:19pm

@Shahdab really?

Recommend0

Syed

Aug 08, 2018 05:36pm

No way they came in a sudden and beat you up. There is always another side of a picture, which victim didnt tell the whole story...

Recommend0

MG

Aug 08, 2018 05:38pm

I live in Australia since 2006 and believe this is a stray incident. As explained this is not a planned racist attack rather an attack by rogues muggers (or may druggies). Racism in Australia is very rare compared to countries like India / Pakistan.

Recommend0

Zia Rehman

Aug 08, 2018 05:39pm

I didn’t think the victim should be blamed for what he said.
It is pretty obvious that some of us don’t have influence in the current system, and when faced with oppression by someone who has grip on the current system, or have big clans, will be having difficulty in getting justice.
In fact if they speak out they get more troubles.
InshaAllah things will become better

Recommend0

Chaya

Aug 08, 2018 05:53pm

What is racism?
Australians are the most racist people in the world.Americans don’t even come near them.
They killed many Indian students a few years back.

Recommend0

Asadullah Shaikh

Aug 08, 2018 06:05pm

glad to see this news on Dawn

Recommend0

haroon m

Aug 08, 2018 06:37pm

no point discussing australia attitude.. if someone goes, he goes as a guest and should be mentally prepared..

@Hameed Gul If you don't want to face racism, don't go to those countries.

Recommend0

Rajesh

Aug 08, 2018 08:14pm

@Changez Khan Don't go to Australia..... simple.

Recommend0

afridi huq khan

Aug 09, 2018 12:26am

what about student wings in pak hostels... they have worse fights...

Recommend0

Hashim

Aug 09, 2018 07:25am

What is happening in Pakistan?? How many time was this lad mugged in Pakistan? How many times have foreigners been racially abused in Pakistan?? Yes we have problems in Pakistan, arising out of three decades of war in our western neighbour, and an aggressive neighbour in the east. Yes, we have had immoral and corrupt leaders who have led our country to economic disaster. Still, Mr. Qaiser should mind his tongue when talking about his own country.

I live in Australia as well, and the truth is that people here dont even know the capital of Pakistan, let alone what is happening there. Its people like Mr. Qaiser, who instead of promoting a better image of Pakistan, create a negative impression by their stupid words.